My new socks

Here they are. Finally finished. For posterity, they were knitted in Knit Picks Essential Tweed on US size 0 needles from a pattern out of Sensational Knitted Socks. This was the very first time I knitted traditional cuff-down socks with heel flaps and grafted toes and it went pretty well. I used a Twisted German Cast-On which I learned from this helpful video, and I am now a huge fan of this cast-on. If you need a stretchy edge, it is a great cast-on to use. To graft the toes I just followed Charlene Schurch’s instructions in the book, and they were pretty straightforward. I like the yarn and would use it again, except in the non-tweed version. You can’t really see it in this picture but the socks are covered with little tufts of fiber in contrasting colors, which apparently is what makes the yarn a “tweed”, but the tweedy flecks are in bright primary colors, which has a somewhat clownish effect. Still, the yarn is soft and nice to work with, and of course, you can’t beat the price. I’ll have to see how they wear over time.

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Urchin

This is my version of Urchin, knitted in Wool Ease Thick and Quick which was a Christmas gift from my youngest brother (who also gave me the yarn for the Quick No-Purl Keyhole Scarf). I love the pattern, and already want to make it again in a more softly colored yarn that is all wool. It is a fun hat, which I think is pretty cute. My little bedside lamp turns out to make a pretty good hat model. I attempted to get a modeled shot by letting my 4 1/2 year old–we’ll call her Willow on the blog–attempt some pictures. Alas, while smart, charming, and practically perfect in every way, she is not a photographic prodigy. Attempts at self-portraiture were also unsuccessful. One of these days I may do one huge knitwear modeling session with Bear, but for now, knitwear will be modeled by lamps or stuffed animals or the furniture. I know my dear readers will forgive me. If you are wishing to practice short-rows, or show off some variegated or handspun bulky yarn, this is a great pattern. I rarely knit from others’ patterns, but this one was quick, well-written, fun, and came out charming. It might also be fun to do a baby-sized version as a matching hat to go with a baby surprise jacket. I think it would work out baby-sized knitted in sportweight yarn, although swatching and math would be required to find out for certain.

Quick No-Purl Keyhole Scarf

This is a quick scarf pattern I came up with.  Enjoy.

Yarn: 1 skein Wool-Ease Thick & Quick in Cranberry
Needles: US size 15 knitting needles (10mm)
Note: slip all stitches purlwise with yarn held in front

CO 15 sts.
Row 1: *K3, sl 1; repeat from *, end k3.
Row 2: K 1, *sl 1, k3; repeat from *, end sl, k1.

Repeat rows 1 and 2 for 24″ (60 cm)

For keyhole: work first 5 stitches in pattern, bind off 5 stitches, then work remaining stitches in pattern.  On following row, work in pattern to bound off stitches, cast on 5 stitches using backward loop cast-on (or desired method), then work remaining stitches in pattern.

Continue in pattern for 10″ (25 cm), then bind off.